Most people who visit Kosciuszko National Park come for the skiing. They drive up the Alpine Way in June, pay the ski season entry fee, and spend the weekend at Thredbo or Perisher. Then they leave and don't come back until the following winter.
The campers who know this park keep that arrangement exactly as it is.
Kosciuszko is NSW's largest national park — 6,900 square kilometres of alpine plateau, river valleys, ancient granite, and sub-alpine wetlands. Its campgrounds are varied in a way most people don't expect: from flat grassy river paddocks teeming with wildlife to remote 4WD tracks near historic cattlemen's huts. Entry fees are higher than most NSW parks, the no-pets rule is absolute, and you must bring your own firewood. But the rewards — eastern grey kangaroos grazing at dusk, platypus at dawn, clear mountain rivers for swimming, and almost no crowds outside school holidays — are hard to find anywhere else in the state.
Right now, in autumn 2026, is arguably the best time to go.
Why autumn is the sweet spot#
The school holiday crowd clears after Easter (6 April). The ski season entry fee ($29/vehicle/day) doesn't kick in until the June long weekend. In between, you have what regular Kosciuszko campers call the good months: cool, clear days for walking, cold nights around a campfire, and a park that feels genuinely empty.
From late March to late May:
- Temperatures sit around 5–15°C in the valley campgrounds — good hiking weather, cool enough for sleep without needing the full winter kit
- Campfires are permitted at valley sites on low fire danger days — pack firewood before you enter the park (collection is prohibited inside)
- Entry fees are at the lower rate ($17/vehicle/day), not the ski season premium
- Wildlife is active — kangaroos, wombats, emus, echidnas, and wallabies are all visible at the valley campgrounds in autumn
- Colour — the introduced deciduous trees (willows, poplars) that line the river valleys turn gold in April and May, giving the landscape a look you don't expect in inland NSW
Snow can arrive at higher elevations from late April. Valley campgrounds like Tom Groggin and Geehi Flats remain accessible well into winter — they're low enough to be snow-free for most of the cold season.
The campgrounds#
Tom Groggin campground#
Tom Groggin sits beside the upper Murray River on Alpine Way, between Khancoban and Thredbo. It's the most accessible and most wildlife-packed campground in the park.
Eastern grey kangaroos graze through the site at dawn and dusk — not the park-edge strays you sometimes see elsewhere, but a resident mob that treats the campground as home ground. Emus wander in from the flats. Echidnas shuffle through at their own pace. It's the kind of wildlife experience that makes people come back year after year.
Facilities: Pit toilets, fire pits, picnic tables. No showers, no power, no reticulated water — bring everything you need to drink and cook with.
Campfires: Permitted on low fire danger days. Bring firewood — collection is prohibited in the park.
Vehicle access: 2WD accessible via Alpine Way. Caravans are permitted but the Alpine Way between Thredbo and Khancoban is winding mountain road — not recommended for large rigs. A footbridge that previously crossed the Murray River at this campground is currently closed until further notice due to safety concerns.
Booking: NSW Parks online or 1300 072 757. Groups up to 12 people / 2 sites can book online.
Fees: No nightly camping fee. $6 booking fee. $17/vehicle/day park entry (non-winter).
Best for: Families, wildlife watchers, fishing the upper Murray, and as a base camp for Thredbo day trips. Also a key waypoint on the National Trail for long-distance cyclists and horse riders.
Geehi Flats campground#
Geehi Flats occupies a wide, flat stretch beside the Swampy Plain River — one of the more serene river settings in the park. The campground is shaded by tall eucalypts, the grass is thick, and the surrounding mountain views are a constant backdrop.
⚠️ Current alert: Machinery is operating at Geehi through 3 April 2026 for campground upgrade works. The campground remains open during this period. Also, Geehi Dam Road is single-lane through 6 June 2026 due to repair works approximately 2 km south of the dam — allow extra time.
Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables, fire pits. No showers, no power, no reticulated water. Bring all drinking and cooking water.
Campfires: Permitted on low fire danger days. Bring firewood.
Vehicle access: 2WD accessible. Flat access off Alpine Way makes this one of the more caravan-friendly options in the park — though the same caveats about Alpine Way mountain road apply.
Booking: NSW Parks online or 1300 072 757.
Fees: No nightly camping fee. $6 booking fee. Park entry fees apply.
Best for: Fly fishing and swimming in the Swampy Plain River, mountain biking, horse riding, and as a gateway to the Geehi Huts walking trail — historic stone huts set in alpine scenery. Kangaroos, wombats, and wallabies are regulars at dusk.
CampWatch note: Geehi Flats fills on long weekends, particularly Easter and the October long weekend before ski season ends. Set an alert if you see it fully booked.
Old Geehi campground#
Old Geehi is the more remote cousin of Geehi Flats — further into the park, requiring 4WD, and with a completely different character. The Old Geehi Hut sits adjacent to the campground, built in 1945 for the NSW Water and Irrigation Commission. The nearby huts along the Geehi Huts walking track were built as shelter for graziers and prospectors.
⚠️ Current alert: Same machinery works apply through 3 April 2026. The site was briefly closed in early March 2026 for gate installation but has since reopened.
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs, picnic tables. No showers, no power, no reticulated water. Bring everything in.
Campfires: Permitted.
Vehicle access: 4WD required. Not accessible by caravans. Winter access is restricted (June through October long weekends).
Booking: NSW Parks online.
Fees: No nightly camping fee. $6 booking fee. Park entry fees apply.
Best for: 4WD tourers, remote bush camping, walkers accessing the Geehi Huts trail, platypus spotting at dawn and dusk along the river. Threatened plant species including endangered orchids grow in the surrounding area.
Yarrangobilly Village campground#
Yarrangobilly is the odd one out in the Kosciuszko campground list — and it's all the better for it. Located on the Snowy Mountains Highway at the northern end of the park, about an hour south of Tumut, it's the base for one of the most unusual combinations in NSW camping: ancient limestone caves and a natural thermal swimming pool that stays at 27°C year-round.
The caves have been a tourist destination since the 1890s. Six show caves are open to the public, with a mix of guided and self-guided tours. The thermal pool is a short walk from the campground and is open year-round. In autumn, the contrast between the cold morning air and the warm pool water is considerable.
Cotterill's Cottage — the oldest standing building in Kosciuszko National Park — is also on the site, built in the 1890s.
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs (wood-fired), picnic tables. No showers, no power. River water available on-site but must be treated or boiled before drinking.
Vehicle access: 2WD accessible, directly off the Snowy Mountains Highway. Parking suitable for caravans and trailers. Note: the park entry vehicle fee may not apply on this highway route — confirm with NPWS before visiting (1300 072 757 or the Tumut Region Visitor Centre on 02 6947 7025).
Booking: NSW Parks online or 1300 072 757.
Best for: Families, touring travellers, heritage explorers, anyone who wants the thermal pool experience. The northern location means it doesn't require traversing Alpine Way and its elevation changes.
Backcountry camping#
Beyond the campgrounds, Kosciuszko has 18+ backcountry camping areas across the park — from Halfway Flat on the Snowy River to remote sites in the Main Range Wilderness. These require a backcountry permit and strict Leave No Trace planning. Above the treeline, no fires are permitted at any time — gas stoves only. Water must be filtered or treated. Navigation skills are essential; mobile coverage is minimal to non-existent.
If you're new to alpine camping, the valley campgrounds are the right starting point.
Before you go: what's different about Kosciuszko#
No pets, no exceptions. Kosciuszko has one of the strictest pet policies in the NSW park system. No dogs, no cats, no pets of any kind — the exception is certified assistance animals. Multiple 1080 poison baiting programs are active across the park through August 2026 targeting wild dogs and foxes, adding another layer of reason to leave pets at home.
BYO firewood. This catches first-timers out. Unlike many coastal parks where you can collect fallen wood, collecting firewood anywhere in Kosciuszko is prohibited. If you want a fire, pack it in — and check fire danger ratings on the day via the NSW Rural Fire Service.
No tap water at most campgrounds. Tom Groggin, Geehi Flats, Old Geehi, and most backcountry sites have no reticulated water. Carry drinking water, cooking water, and extra in reserve. Yarrangobilly has river water that must be treated.
Entry fees apply. $17 per vehicle per day outside ski season. This applies on Alpine Way and most main corridors. Budget for it — it adds up on a multi-day trip.
Alpine weather, always. Even on a warm autumn day, conditions above 1,400m can change within an hour. Sleet, wind, and a 10°C temperature drop are all realistic in autumn. Pack a full wet weather layer, a warm mid-layer, and a sleeping bag rated below what you think you'll need. A bag rated to 0°C is minimum for valley campgrounds in autumn; sub-alpine or alpine camping requires better.
Booking#
All campgrounds book through NSW Parks or by calling 1300 072 757 (7am–7pm daily). Check the Kosciuszko local alerts page before every trip — road works, baiting programs, and weather-related closures are common and sometimes short-notice.
Tom Groggin and Geehi Flats both fill on long weekends and school holidays. CampWatch monitors NSW Parks every 10 minutes and sends an SMS the moment a site opens up. Free, no account required. Set your campground, dates, and group size — and let the cancellations come to you.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed in Kosciuszko National Park?
No. Pets and domestic animals are not permitted anywhere in Kosciuszko National Park, with the sole exception of certified assistance animals. This rule applies to all campgrounds, walks, and day-use areas. Multiple 1080 baiting programs are also active across the park through August 2026, targeting wild dogs and foxes.
Can you have a campfire in Kosciuszko National Park?
In valley campgrounds (Tom Groggin, Geehi Flats, Yarrangobilly Village), campfires are permitted on low fire danger days. You must bring all firewood with you — collecting wood within the park is prohibited. Above the treeline and in alpine areas, no open fires are permitted at any time. Gas stoves are required for backcountry and sub-alpine camping.
Do I need to pay to enter Kosciuszko National Park?
Yes. A daily vehicle entry fee applies year-round on Alpine Way and main park corridors: $17 per vehicle per day outside ski season, and $29 per vehicle per day during winter (June long weekend through October long weekend). The Snowy Mountains Highway through the Yarrangobilly area may be exempt — confirm with NPWS before visiting.
What campgrounds are in Kosciuszko National Park?
The main bookable campgrounds are Tom Groggin (Murray River, 2WD, wildlife), Geehi Flats (Swampy Plain River, 2WD, caravan-friendly), Old Geehi (4WD only, remote, platypus), and Yarrangobilly Village (Snowy Mountains Highway, 2WD, near thermal pool and caves). There are also 18+ backcountry and remote camping areas throughout the park requiring a backcountry permit.
When is the best time to camp in Kosciuszko National Park?
Autumn (March–May) is the sweet spot for most campers. Crowds drop after Easter, temperatures are comfortable for hiking during the day (5–15°C), campfires are permitted at valley sites, and the deciduous trees in the valleys turn gold. Snow can arrive from late April at higher elevations. Summer is warm but busy and subject to afternoon thunderstorms. Winter brings snow and road closures, with only the lowest valley campgrounds remaining accessible.